Main Street Academy 'cares'

Janelle Jessen/Siloam Sunday Ten Chromebook computers, purchased with money raised during the 2013 Friends of the Main Street Academy fundraiser, arrived on Monday. Pictured holding some of the Chromebooks are student Alexus Herling, adopter board member Gina VanDyck, student Breanna Green, principal Michele Markovich, and student Ester Gonzalez.
Janelle Jessen/Siloam Sunday Ten Chromebook computers, purchased with money raised during the 2013 Friends of the Main Street Academy fundraiser, arrived on Monday. Pictured holding some of the Chromebooks are student Alexus Herling, adopter board member Gina VanDyck, student Breanna Green, principal Michele Markovich, and student Ester Gonzalez.

As an 18-year-old single parent with lots of responsibilities, Ester Gonzalez decided not to return to school this year. Instead, he chose to pursue a GED.

Until a group of teachers knocked on her door and asked her to come back last August during the Reach Out NWA program. The program, originally piloted in Siloam Springs, is held across the region to increase graduation rates.

"It made me feel they cared," Gonzalez said.

The faculty at Main Street Academy helped Gonzalez work out her schedule so she can finish school and earn her high school diploma by December and walk in the graduation ceremony next May.

Gonzalez said that returning to school was one of the best decisions she has ever made. She feels a high school degree will give her more opportunities in life and make it easier to go on to higher education.

With sparkling yet determined eyes, Gonzalez said she plans to go on to college and pursue a career in the medical field. She's looking forward to telling her son "It was hard, but I did it and you can do it, too."

Gonzalez shared her story at the Friends of the Main Street Academy's third annual fundraiser, held at the Smith Estate in West Siloam Springs, Okla., on Oct. 18.

Main Street Academy is part of the Siloam Springs School District and provides an alternative learning environment for students who are at risk of not finishing high school. Currently the school has an enrollment of 85 students.

The fundraiser brought in $9,756 to be used for scholarships for alternative school students and to help the school with any needs. More than 128 people attended the event, according to organizer Gina VanDyck.

Last spring 44 students met the required credits for graduation at the school.

Sunny Netro, a 2014 graduate, also told her story at the fundraiser. She met state representative-elect Robin Lundstrum at the 2014 adopters fundraiser and went on to work on Lundstrum's campaign. She received a scholarship from Lundstrum and is currently enrolled in college.

Greg Markovich, founder of the Main Street Academy's Sea of Life Curriculum, also spoke at the event. Greg is also the uncle of principal Michele Markovich's husband.

Main Street Academy sold sponsor tables for the fundraising dinner for the first time at the event, VanDyck said. Simmons Foods, Ron Mooney State Farm Insurance and Arvest were the presenting sponsors, she said.

Dinner was held in a tent on the lawn of the Smith Estate, owned by Mike and Rosalinda Smith. Auction items were placed inside the former Butterfield Overland Mail building. Mike moved the crumbling building log by log to the couple's property and restored it, VanDyck explained.

Main Street Academy students created pumpkin centerpieces for the dinner that were auctioned after the event. National Honor Society students volunteered to serve food and to help with set-up and clean-up at the event.

Violinist Nathan Burns and cellist Austin Hinrichs, both from John Brown University, provided the music for the evening. Dillon Butler volunteered to serve as auctioneer.

General News on 11/02/2014